Hi,
I'm new here, but i'm very interested in what I'm reading. Let me state that I'm very new to amp builing but do have some basic soldering skills, and a very general understanding of componets, and there functions. I'm pretty green , but I'm a fast learner, and love technical reading. I have just received a pas 3 preamp that I will start a restoration on. Soon after I would like to scratch build my own Poweramp. I'm looking for a basic /classic EL34 PP amp layout with an output of perhaps 35 watts /ch. It occured to be that The Dynaco ST-70 clone may be my best option. The reasons are many. Number one would, be the fact that an actually contruction manual would be very helpful, as I've never built from a schematic, or from anything else for that matter! Number 2 is the abundance of parts available. The prebuild driver boards are very appealing. I know many would recommend rebuilding a old unit, but these thing are now up to $500 with pits of rust and all!

My plan would be to build the amp on a new wood base / metal top plate chassis such as the 17 x 11 x 2.5 model from Wellborne labs. I want a new layout with Tranies lined up across the back. A row of EL34 across the middle, and the drivers up front with the driverboard hidden under the plate. I have not been able to work out how this would be possible.

Does anyone have a suggestion as to best accomplish this hidden board approach? Any other comments as to my plan to change the tube placement using the new chassis would be very welcomed. I'm also open to suggestions regarding other el34 pp circuits, but I don't think any exist with the documentation of the dynaco. I am NOT at the level of building from a schematic alone. As for kits, I have not found on with a layout, and specs that I care for!

I'm aware of the ella, and it's amost exactly what I want. The problem is that foward placed Trannie. It's hiding some of those wonderful tubes! Anyone know of a kit like it for a similar price, but with all the tubes out front? Otherwise, i need to come up with a way to hide the driver board on a clone,(leaving the driver tubes exposed out front and on top of the chassis! Perhaps I could use Tall sockets, and mount the board underneth using standoffs?????

Originally posted by audiohead
Do yourself a favor and stay away from dynaco topology including the after market driver boards. Dynaco has absolutely nothing to offer musically, the stuff sucks.
`````````````````````````````````````````````````
The Truth Revealed
dynaco transformers were/are low quality as well

Finally... the lies and hype re Dynas is dying. Bloody well time.
Bought a st70 in '71 loved it modded it with Curcio bits in 80's V exppensive.. Loved it.. Untill it was demonstrated to me that a cheap NAD simply outclassed it in every possible way.
Also not a Fan of the Chinee amp kits sold with names like Ella:-)
Wanna decent Amp kit?? Buy a Bottlehead, save some coin and get better sounds.. Fact that it looks like a Boyscout project is just icing onna cake. This is alegedly about the Music.. Right?
Don't wanna Build ?.. Buy an NAD, Way better than a lot of high(er?) cost Audio Weenie equip out there... sad but true.
As an aside don''t go building an system of high accuracy/specification cuz the majority of recordings available aren't overly well done and are basically unplayable/listenable on such a playback systyem... making the entire excersise into a joke.
Don't ask.